These pieces have dignity and wisdom in their eyes and posture. Love them!
Taiwanese Gem
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@DelphinSnow - Thanks for the feedback and well said! That they do. Indeed … I think the carver may have had dignity and wisdom … a closer look at the 8 different pawns below and I note that they are designed such they 4 face in from the left and 4 from the right.😏 I am sure this design has some form of historical significance and that these pieces were originally designed long ago and probably carved from ivory or bone. These large wooden pieces are surely just a tourist repro but I am not sure they make ‘em like they used too! It would take a lot of time to carve and finish to this quality these days. These pictures below include the folding board that came with the pieces too. 
Are you kidding me? If that set was a movie, it would/should get the Academy Award! Being critical of that gem border's on insanity. I do admit that as I started to read this thread, Powder, I was shaking my head, expecting some overly elaborate nutty set of some type....Boy, was I wrong!
Once again, you demonstrate a propensity for coming up with gold.....I have to hate you, I think.
This is such a nice touch, that the to sides of the pawns face each other, as if they communicate with each other.
These pieces have so much personality, that I find it hard to call them "pieces". I can also see sorrow in their eyes, maybe from having to go to war. Something, I also see in the Isle of Lewis chess pieces.
It had to be you to add this to his/her collection! I have a feeling that the one offs, the oddballs (in a good way) all gravitate slowly in your direction!
The pieces are great, congratulations on your find!
It’s intriguing. The king is 10.5 and weighs 450gms. Much like the Mexican set , or the Lewis pieces … at such a large size, they have gravitas and I’ll quite happily display these wooden sculptures without a board - just a few pieces, displayed as art. In this instance, the carving is immensely clever … the drape of the bishops clothing makes it hard to believe it is wood! Then there’s the frown lines and expressive faces ….its funny and a tad sad to think that the elderly couple offered this set to their sons and daughters but alas, they had no interest. I suppose that makes sense - it’s hardly modern - but it goes to show —- the real value is in all that we can’t leave behind. I’m sure when I leave this mortal coil, my kids will dispose of my sets … and smile at the oddity of dad’s collection but prefer to remember me not the bits and pieces that I collected along the way. Who knows … whatever else - anyone may think - I love this set.
Anyway - time to hit the cot 💤.
It’s interesting to me that I can see countless cheap and nasty variants of this set … soapstone, roughly carved wood and unpainted. Matched with rubbish boards. Lots of crud … I suppose this is just a better variant that was sold ‘back in the day’. Again - I don’t pretend it’s a high-value antique but I do think it’s very good and a tip of my cap to whoever made it back whenever!
The eight pawns discussing the world’s problems … whilst one gent appears to be hobbling and is looking to the sky for help. The folding board is a beauty too… no kitsch carving - just a wonderful board with 7.5cm squares to use with any large set, when needed.
I agree that this set would slow down the game for me, but who cares? Each of the pawns and pieces has its own personality. What a delightful set! What are the dimensions of the board?
Nice decoration.
Hi @JonThePawn - the last board pictured - that came with the pieces - is 75cm*75cm with a playing surface of just over 60cm square. Each square is 7.5cm.
The first board pictured is 65cm square but with larger 8cm squares and very solid - made by a local woodworker.
The set is playable but is more for display with the occasional fun - because “why not” - type of game with a friend.
The first board pictured is 65cm square but with larger 8cm squares and very solid - made by a local woodworker.
The set is playable but is more for display with the occasional fun - because “why not” - type of game with a friend.
Great stuff and thank you for sharing, incredible 
I hope someone can tell us the story of these characters to enjoy it even more. Only thing I'd question is your 'alas, no serious games'. I remember how playing our correspondence match your Mexicans vs. my smurfs meant taking a very serious effort. To play with your set here it would help me a lot to know the story of the characters- to use something you understand in a chess context.
Ok - last post on this from me (for a little while 😉) for fear of serious chess players and collectors getting sick of what is something of a novelty set - or decoration, as noted. Here is the board folded and then I’ve stacked my two large boards together and it looks lovely. Note too the grain in the wood as noted in the white king. Lovely stuff.
I will certainly use this more for display than play but I may well invite a mate over this arvo for a glass of wine and a game with these pieces. All great fun. 
ungewichtet wrote:
Great stuff and thank you for sharing, incredible I hope someone can tell us the story of these characters to enjoy it even more. Only thing I'd question is your 'alas, no serious games'. I remember how playing our correspondence match your Mexicans vs. my smurfs meant taking a very serious effort. To play with your set here it would help me a lot to know the story of the characters- to use something you understand in a chess context.
I too would like to know more about the design origins - as I am sure there will be some insights into Taiwanese and/or Chinese history and culture.
Also - I enjoy your open mind to play with and learn from different sets. You may be disappointed to learn that I have since old most of my themed or tourists sets - the beautiful Balinese, the soapstone Chinese, the aztecs and the ghouls …. to make a few. They are but novelties passing through and to help me learn but this set and the Mexicans - they are unlikely to be sold - their quality stands as decorative pieces whether or not I ever play chess with them.
Well @Powderdigit since you mentioned that Mexican set, I have thought it looked sloppy and could have been painted in a single afternoon. And though the style is characteristic of that culture, that set really didn't appeal to me. However, this 'Taiwanese' set is obviously something different. This set demonstrates the skilled craftsmanship that can only be accomplished by hand, and with many years of dedication. I don't see anything here that was a result of a 'power' tool of any kind. Primitive tools?...maybe...and yet it's only achievable with such primitive methods. This is a very impressive set.
I am a bit lost for words. I think I’ll let the photos do most of the talking.
The scale is staggering. It’s huge.
The carving is beautiful and the care taken to paint/stain the pieces is plain to see. Much like my whimsical Mexican set - these pieces make me smile.
To the best of my knowledge - it is was
purchased 45+ years ago in Taiwan and has been in its box ever since. A relic of bygone tourism. The board pictured (with 8cm squares) is one I already had and does justice to the pieces but amazingly - these piece came with a quality, classic folding chess board of similar size; photos of that, later.
I think most people who frequent this forum, know that I like an eclectic collection… I would not advise buying such sets to play nor to think they hold any value but my gosh - some take me by surprise and this is one of those! It’s truly an artistic gem.
Some will view the bottle of wine as the best thing about this post. I know such sets are seen as crass by some but truly - this is lovely. It’s eminently playable too - it is quite plain to see the role of each piece but alas, no blitz or serious games here!!